ALEXANDRIA, La. (1/31/2025) – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria men’s basketball team received its highest ranking of the season in the latest NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, coming in at No. 2, on Wednesday, January 29.
The No. 2 Generals (18-1, 15-1 RRAC) opened the season at No. 12 in the NAIA Preseason Coaches’ Top 25 Poll in late October and jumped to No. 6 in the first regular season poll on November 13.
At the time of the November 13 poll, the Generals were 4-0 and had just opened Red River Athletic Conference play with a 77-64 victory over Jarvis Christian University. Dimario Jackson’s squad logged three non-conference wins over Wiley University (84-70), Loyola University New Orleans (89-77), and No. 4 Freed-Hardeman University (69-63). Freed-Hardeman University is currently the only team above the Generals in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll. LSUA also mounted an 83-80 win in an exhibition against NCAA Division I Lamar University.
Since then, the Generals are 14-1 and riding a 12-game win streak into this week’s games against Paul Quinn College and the University of the Southwest (N.M.).
“It’s been an outstanding season so far for Dimario and his players,” LSUA Director of Athletics Tyler Unsicker said. “I am proud of not just their performance, but how they have continuously challenged themselves and each other to get better as the season has progressed. At this stage of the season, the games always get tougher, and the sustained success is a testament to the culture and drive of the program.”
Leading the Generals are All-American senior guard Kashie Natt and sophomore guard E.J. McQuillan.
Natt has produced a remarkable season, averaging 18.1 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, while shooting 46% from the floor. He posted a season-high 28 points on December 21, 2024, in an 85-71 road win over Our Lady of the Lake University. Defensively, the Rayville native has tallied 35 steals and 14 blocks. Natt has recorded 10 double-doubles on the season, eight of which have come in conference play. He currently ranks fourth among Red River Athletic Conference players in points per game and leads the conference in rebounding.
McQuillan averages 13.1 points per game and is shooting 41.6% from the field. He is finding equal success when firing from deep, connecting on 42% of his shots from beyond the arc. McQuillan has recorded double-digit points in all but four games this season and scored a career-high 24 points twice – the first against Southwest in December and the second against Texas College in January.
Just Eight Games Remain
Just eight games remain in the 2024-25 season for LSUA. After this week’s home contests against Paul Quinn and Southwest (N.M.), the Generals head on the road for a pair of games against North American University and Huston-Tillotson University on February 6 and February 8, respectively.
The Generals’ final four games of the season feature a trio of teams slated to make the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament. Two of those teams, Xavier (LA) and Our Lady of the Lake, are directly behind the Purple and Gold in the standings.
Xavier (LA) is currently second in the RRAC with a record of 12-4, while Our Lady of the Lake is in third with a record of 12-6.
Three of the final four games are slammed into the week of February 10. LSUA faces Xavier (LA) on February 11, before hosting Our Lady of the Lake on Thursday, February 13. The Generals close the week on Saturday, February 15, against Texas A&M-San Antonio at home.
The regular season finale pits LSUA against its sister school LSU Shreveport. The Generals captured the opening leg of the season series, 108-75, at The Fort on January 4.
2025’s Red River Athletic Conference Tournament is scheduled for February 28 through March 2 at the Laborde Earles Coliseum in Alexandria, LA.
Written by Caleb Dunlop | LSUA Athletics
Photo credit – Adam Lord | LSUA Strategic Communications
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